Originally released in 1969, The Gilded Palace of Sin is the debut release from one of the most influential country-rock outfits of all time. Helmed by the legendary Gram Parsons with help from ex-Byrd Chris Hillman and LA pedal steel maverick ”Sneaky” Pete Kleinow, The Burritos’ debut features Sin City (later covered by Parsons compatriot Emmylou Harris), Wheels, …
Nico’s solo debut, Chelsea Girl, was originally released in 1967, mere months after her groundbreaking album with the Velvet Underground. Featuring playing and songwriting help from the VU’s Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison, as well as the then unknown Jackson Browne (who was dating Nico at the time), Chelsea Girl is a masterpiece of orchestral folk-pop. …
Originally released in 1977, this was the first album Iggy Pop made after the dissolution of the Stooges, several jailings and a self-imposed stay in a mental institution. Produced by David Bowie, and including music written almost entirely by him, this is Iggy’s most introspective and heavy work. Much more mechanical than the sleazy proto-punk of the Stooges, …
Originally released in 1973, Paris 1919 is Cale’s fourth solo release following his departure from The Velvet Underground. Cale’s songs on Paris 1919 are hyper-literate numbers filled with political intrigue and shady characters loosely based around the Versailles Conference alluded to in the album’s title. Recorded with help from Lowell George and Richie Hayward of Los Angeles southern-rockers …
Containing some of the best songs he’s ever written, Southern Nights is Allen Toussaint’s 1975 ‘swing for the fences’ attempt at an all out masterpiece. Somewhat of a concept album, with reoccurring instrumental themes usually based on the title track popping up between songs, this album spawned at least two hits for other artists. The title track (minus …
Just As I Am is the 1971 debut of soul legend, Bill Withers. Produced by Booker T. Jones, and featuring backing from L.A. stalwarts Jim Keltner, Chris Ethridge, and Stephen Stills, Just As I Am features the outright, stone cold, classic Ain’t No Sunshine along with other, lesser known, but equally powerful tracks such as Grandma’s Hands and …
Dusty grooves in Memphis! Britain’s greatest pop diva Dusty Springfield was the finest blue-eyed soul singer of her era, and this landmark Atlantic Records album from 1969 is a masterpiece, a perfect marriage of pop and soul. It contains her top 10 hit Son Of A Preacher Man plus several other hit singles and classic tracks. The LP …
(2-LP set) Nascimento’s 1972 double LP is named after the musical collective he helped to found in his Brazilian home state of Minas Gerais. Along with the help of fellow collective member Lo Borges, and with wonderful arrangements from Eumir Deodato, Nascimento seamlessly combines bossa nova with soul, pop, jazz, psychedelic and classical influences. A masterpiece on par …
1971’s Maggot Brain is Funkadelic’s all-out masterpiece. Absolutely no one working in soul and funk at the time had the scope, vision, to pull off the kind of record that George Clinton and his collaborators have made here. Eccentric funk jams are book ended by two of the heaviest tracks (Maggot Brain and Wars Of Armageddon) ever committed …